Methods and apparatus for removing a slug from a frame of an automobile

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method are provided for removing a slug from a frame of an automobile. The apparatus a mandrel configured for insertion into an aperture of the slug and a mandrel engaging plate configured to engage the mandrel. The apparatus also includes a cammed jaw connected to the mandrel engaging plate and an actuator. The mandrel engaging plate is configured to engage the automobile frame and the actuator is configured to separate the cammed jaw from the mandrel engaging plate such that the mandrel is drawn through the aperture of the slug, thereby removing the slug from the automobile frame.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to automobile slugremoval, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for removing aslug from a frame of an automobile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Automobiles are typically designed with portions of thesuspension fixed in a predetermined position, such that the suspensionis pre-aligned prior to installation into the automobile. This isparticularly applicable to the front suspension and more particularlyapplicable to the upper control arm pocket frame of the frontsuspension. Unfortunately, suspensions become misaligned and adjustmentsare desirable after initial assembly of an automobile is complete.Therefore, the automobile industry has provided a mechanism forsuspension realignments.

[0003] More specifically, the frame of the suspension is manufacturedwith multiple mounting apertures that have been completely or partiallycovered with preformed, perforated or plastically deformed material tofacilitate removal. The re-alignment of the suspension is accomplishedwith the selection of a mounting aperture that positions the suspensionin a realigned position, removing the material to open the selectedmounting aperture, and re-mounting the frame at the selected mountingaperture. Thus, these preformed, perforated or plastically deformedmounting apertures provided a viable solution for the realignment of thesuspension after initial assembly of the automobile.

[0004] Attempts have been made to provide efficient and consistentremoval of the material that covers the mounting apertures, which istypically referred to as a slug. For example, in one prior art method, ahammer and punch was used to remove the slug. In a second prior artmethod, a grinder was used to remove the slug covering the mountingaperture, and in a third prior art method a manual threaded tool wasused to force the slug out of the mounting aperture. However, theseprior art methods have not generally provided time efficient andconsistent results.

[0005] In view of the forgoing, it should be appreciated that it wouldbe desirable to provide methods and apparatus for removing a slug froman automobile frame that are efficient and produce consistent results.Furthermore, additional desirable features will become apparent to oneskilled in the art from the following detailed description of apreferred exemplary embodiment and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In accordance with the teachings of the present invention,methods and apparatus are provided for removing a slug from anautomobile frame. The apparatus includes a mandrel configured forinsertion into an aperture of the slug and a mandrel engaging plateconfigured to engage the mandrel. The apparatus also includes a cammedjaw connected to the mandrel engaging plate and an actuator. The mandrelengaging plate is configured to engage the automobile frame and theactuator is configured to separate the cammed jaw from the mandrelengaging plate such that the mandrel is drawn through the aperture ofthe slug, thereby removing the slug from the automobile frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is an apparatus for removing a slug from an automobileframe according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a top view of the slug puller assembly before the slughas been removed from the automobile frame;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a top view of the slug puller assembly after the slughas been removed from the automobile frame;

[0010]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of the mandrel and mandrelengaging plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0011] The following detailed description of a preferred exemplaryembodiment of the invention is mainly exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the invention or its application or uses.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus 12 is illustrated for removinga slug from an automobile frame according to a preferred exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 12 includes, but isnot limited to, a slug puller assembly 14 and charging unit 16. The slugpuller assembly 14 and charging unit 16 are connected with a conduit 18.In a preferred embodiment, the conduit 18 is a hydraulic fluids linethat channels hydraulic fluids from the charging unit to hydraulicallydrive the slug puller assembly 14. In a non-limiting embodiment, theconduit 18 can transfer fluids from a number of charging means (e.g.hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically or there like) to the slugpuller assembly 14.

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the slug puller assembly 14 of FIG. 1is shown in greater detail according to a preferred exemplary embodimentof the present invention. The slug puller assembly 14 is preferablyconfigured to remove a slug 20 from a frame 22, more preferablyconfigured to remove a slug 20 from a frame 22 of an automobilesuspension, and most preferably configured to remove a slug 20 from aframe 22 of an automobile front suspension. However, the presentinvention is configurable for removing a slug from any number ofautomobile support structures and components. The slug puller assembly14 includes, but is not limited to a cammed jaw 24, and a actuatorassembly 26, a mandrel engaging plate 28 and a mandrel 30.

[0014] The mandrel 30 is configured for insertion into an aperture inthe slug 20 and the mandrel engaging plate 28 is configured to engagethe mandrel 30. The cammed jaw 24 is connected to the mandrel engagingplate 28 and configured to engage the inner surface 36 of frame 22causing the mandrel head 31 to contact the outer surface 37 of the frame22. The actuator assembly 26 is configured to move the cammed jaw 24such that a distance 32 between a contact surface 34 of the cammed jaw24 and the mandrel engaging plate 28. The increase in the distance 32between the contact surface 34 and the mandrel engaging plate 28 resultsin the contact surface 34 of the cammed jaw 40 contacting the innersurface 36 of the frame 22 and the mandrel engaging plate 28 engagingthe mandrel 30. These actions draw the mandrel 30 through the apertureof the slug 30, thereby removing the slug 20 from the frame 22. Theremoval of the slug 20 from the frame 22 can consist of a completeremoval of the slug 20 from the frame 22 to open an aperture in theframe 22, a partial removal of the slug 20 to open an aperture in theframe 22, or an adjustment to the reposition of the slug 20 to open theaperture in the frame 22.

[0015] Referring momentarily to FIGS. 4 and 5, the mandrel engagingplate 28 is provided with a first end 38 having a channel 40 forengaging a mating neck 42 of the mandrel 30 and a second end 44 forattachment to the slug puller housing 36, which is also attached to thecammed jaw 24 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Continuing with reference to FIGS. 3 and4, the cammed jaw 24 is preferably attached to a slug puller housing 46with a pivot pin 48. The attachment of the cammed jaw 24 to the slugpuller housing 46 with the pivot pin 48 provides a pivot action of thecammed jaw 24 about the pivot pin 48 as a protruding drive rod 50 of theactuator assembly 26 traverses an elongated groove 52 of the cammed jaw40, which is preferably a concave groove and more preferably a concavegrove towards the mandrel engaging plate. The movement of the protrudingdrive rod 50 in a first direction pivots the cammed jaw 24 about thepivot pin 48 to increase the distance 32 between the contact surface 34of the cammed jaw 24 and the mandrel engaging plate 28. Conversely,movement of the protruding drive rod 50 in a second direction, which issubstantially opposite to the first direction, pivots the cammed jaw 24to decrease the distance 32 between the contact surface 34 of the cammedjaw 24 and mandrel engaging plate 28.

[0016] The movement of the protruding drive rod 50 in the first andsecond direction to pivot the cammed jaw 40 about the pivot pin 48 isprovided by the actuator assembly 26, which includes, but is not limitedto a piston 54 and a cylinder 56. The protruding drive rod 50 isconnected to the piston 54 and the piston 54 is contained within thecylinder 56. The cylinder 56 also contains a fluid that is increased involume through the transfer of fluid from the charging unit 16 (FIG. 1)to the cylinder 56. Therefore, as the fluid volume is increased in thecylinder 56, the piston 54 vacates the cylinder 56 and moves theprotruding drive rod 50 in the first direction. Conversely, as the fluidvolume is decreased in the cylinder 56, the piston 54 enters thecylinder 56 and moves the protruding drive rod 50 in the seconddirection. As previously discussed in this detailed description of apreferred exemplary embodiment, the movement in the first directionpivots the cammed jaw 40 about the pivot pin 48 to increase the distance32 between the contact surface 34 of the cammed jaw 24 and mandrelengaging plate 28. The increase in the distance 32 between the contactsurface 34 and the mandrel engaging plate 28 results in the contactsurface 34 of the cammed jaw 40 contacting the inner surface 36 of theframe 22 and the mandrel engaging plate 28 engaging the mandrel 30,thereby drawing the mandrel 30 through the aperture in the slug 20 andremoving the slug 20 from the frame 22.

[0017] From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that methods andapparatus are provided for removing a slug from an automobile frame thatare efficient and produce consistent results. In addition, while theforegoing detailed description provides a preferred exemplaryembodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, orconfiguration of the invention in any way. Rather, the ensuing detaileddescription will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient roadmap for implementing a preferred embodiment of the invention. It beingunderstood that various changes may be made in the function andarrangement of elements described in an exemplary preferred embodimentwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for removing a slug from anautomobile frame, comprising: a mandrel configured for insertion into anaperture of the slug; a mandrel engaging plate configured to engage saidmandrel; a cammed jaw connected to said mandrel engaging plate andconfigured to contact the automobile frame; an actuator assemblyconnected to said cammed jaw, said actuator configured to separate saidcammed jaw from said mandrel engaging plate such that said mandrel isdrawn through said aperture of the slug, thereby removing the slug fromthe automobile frame.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mandrelengaging plate comprises a first end having a channel for engaging amating neck of said mandrel and a second end for connection to saidcammed jaw.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a slugpuller housing having a pivot pin, said pivot pin configured to connectsaid slug puller housing to said cammed jaw for a pivot action of saidcammed jaw about said pivot pin as a protruding drive rod of saidactuator assembly traverses an elongated groove of said cammed jaw. 4.The apparatus of claim 3, wherein movement of said protruding drive rodin a first direction pivots said cammed jaw about said pivot pin andincreases a distance between a contact surface of said cammed jaw andsaid mandrel engaging plate.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, whereinmovement of said protruding drive rod in a second direction pivots saidcammed jaw about said pivot pin and decreases a distance between saidcontact surface of said cammed jaw and said mandrel engaging plate. 6.The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said actuator assembly comprises: apiston connected to said protruding drive rod; and a cylinder containingsaid piston and a fluid, whereby the volume of said fluid in saidcylinder is increased to vacate said piston from said cylinder and saidmove said protruding drive rod in said first direction.
 7. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the automobile frame is a front suspension frame ofan automobile suspension.
 8. A method for removing a slug from anautomobile frame, comprising: inserting a mandrel into an aperture ofthe slug; engaging said mandrel with a mandrel engaging plate;separating a cammed jaw from said mandrel engaging plate such that saidmandrel is drawn through said aperture of the slug and removed from thecontrol arm pocket frame of the automobile suspension.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein said engaging said mandrel with said mandrel platecomprises engaging a mating neck of said mandrel with a channel of saidmandrel engaging plate.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein separatingsaid cammed jaw from said mandrel engaging plate comprises pivoting saidcammed jaw about a pivot pin of a slug puller housing as a protrudingdrive rod of said actuator assembly traverses an elongated groove ofsaid cammed jaw.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein pivoting saidcammed jaw about said pivot pin further comprises moving said protrudingdrive rod in a first direction such that said cammed jaw pivots aboutsaid pivot pin and a distance between a contact surface of said cammedjaw and said mandrel engaging plate is increased.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein pivoting said cammed jaw about said pivot pin furthercomprises moving said protruding drive rod in a second direction suchthat said cammed jaw pivots about said pivot pin and said distancebetween said contact surface of said cammed jaw and said mandrelengaging plate is decreased.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein movingsaid protruding drive rod in said first direction comprises increasingthe volume of a fluid contained in a cylinder with said piston.